Apparatus for concentrating sulfuric acid.



Patented Aug. 20, IQOI.

J. L. KESSLEB. APPARATUS FOR CUNCENTRATING SULFURIC ACID.

(Application filed Nv. 12, 1900.)

(No Model.)l

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JACQUES LOUIS KESSLER, OF CLERMONT-FERRAND, FRANCE.

APPARATUS FCR CONCENTRATING SULFURlC ACID.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,867, dated August 20, 1901. Application filed November l2. 1900. Serial No. 36,227. (No model.)

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACQUES Louis Kuss- LER, chemist engineer, residing in Clermont- Ferrand, (Puyde-Dme,) in the Republic of France, have invented an Apparatus for the Concentration of Sulfuric Acid, of which the following is a specification.

The apparatus for the concentration of sulfuric acid which forms the subject of this invention is characterized by the combination of known parts for the purpose of arriving at a result which is more speedy, and consequently more economical, and also by the special arrangement of a troughin which the concentration is completed. A form of this apparatus is represented by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal section through the two extremities of the apparatus, which are shown 'in proximity. Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan view as seen from above. Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on the line A B of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a modified form of the concentrating-trough.

The concentrating apparatus comprises a coal or coke furnace a, at the top of which is arranged a conduit h for the escape of the products of combustion, a trough c, which is inattackable by hot sulfuric acid at all degrees of concentration--for example, of volvio stone, natural or artificial sandstone, granite, or the like, and into which flows the sulfuric acid in process of concentration-#said trough being covered at its front portion with slabs or plates d of cast metal or material refractory to heat and to the acid. Above said slabs is an arch e, forming a vacant space, into which opens the conduit b and from which proceeds another conduit f, terminating in a chamber g, which is in communication by means of a conduit h with a draftchimney o', one or more concentrating-pans j, supported by castmetal plates lo, forming the upper portion of the chamber g, a column consisting of two compartments t and m, separated bya platen, perforated by apertures o, formed in protuberances thereof, the lower portion of the said column being formed of a plate p, constituted in the same manner as the platen, and placing the compartment m in communication with the rear portion of the trough c, and finally a siphon q interposed between the pans j and the compartment Z of the said column.

There is nothing special about the construction of the furnace a. It may be of anysuitable kind, and its operation depends upon its construction.

The trough c may be formed of separate parts, which may be assembled by means of alkaline silicate or asbestos cement. It is placed in a tank r, of lead, which should be perfectly tight and maintained by means of plates of cast metal in juxtaposition. The surface of the acid which it contains is maintained at a distance of about two to six centimeters from the plates d by means of a sluice or valve arranged within the communicationpipe Z, connecting the trough c with a refrigerator 2, into which the concentrated acid passes and which is hereinafter referred to. The smaller this distance the more active is the concentration; but it may be pointed out that the distance may be greater than six centimeters.

The pans j present no special features in the sense that they are similar to those employed in almost every system of concentrating sulfuric acid, and they are sufficiently well known to need no description.

The column consists of Volvic stone or other material refractory to acids both as regards its vertical walls and the plates n and p. It is completely inclosed in a lead jacket. Its upper portion is closed by means of a cover t, of refractory stone or of lead, through which passes a lead pipe u, enabling the gases which are not condensed to escape to the eX- terior. In this pipe is arranged a nozzle o, which serves to project in the direction of the outlet a jet of steam, which causes a draft from the interior and prevents the air :from entering, owing to the suction produced by the chimney The lower part of the compartment Z is provided with a leaden analyzing-tube w, opening below the upper portion of the protuberance formed upon the plate n. The lower part of the compartment m is provided with an analyzing-tube oa, arranged in the same IOO manner as lthe pipe to. The compartment Z is provided or filled with coke crushed to the size of grains of rice, while the compartment vfm is filled with particles of stone or brick refractory to acids, arranged in the same manner as the contents of a Glover tower.

q represents a siphon similar to those employed for supplying concentration appliances as hitherto constructed and which it is therefore unnecessary to describe. This siphon regulates the passage of the acid coming from the pansj into the compartment Zof the column. The jet of acid into this compartment may be produced by means of several tubes y, supplied by the siphon q.

The refrigerator 2 above referred to, but which does not constitute an integral portion of the concentration apparatus, is provided with a water-seal cover, and the pipe l, of volvic stone, with cover. and spout of lead, places it in communication with the trough c. The lead of this pipe is soldered on one side of the jacket of the said trough and on the other to the inner envelop of the refrigerator 2. This latter is also in communication with a leaden vessel 3, into which the acid passes and from which the carboys are filled.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Assuming the apparatus to be in op-` erationthat is to say, the furnace a, lighted, the plates CZ raised to a red heat by the products of combustion, and acid in process 0f concentration in the pans j and in the trough c-the pans j are supplied with acid to be concentrated, and the concentration in these pans may be continued up to from 60 to 62 Baume. The acid is drawn off from the pans j by means of the siphon q, which conducts it into the compartment Z through the tubes y, the action of the siphon being regulated in accordance with the indications of a thermometer arranged in the refrigerator 2 in such a manner as to enter the communication-pipe 1 in front of retaining valve or sluice provided within this latter. From the compartment Z the acid passes into the compartment m as soon as the level rises above the upper portion of the protubcrances in the plate n, and the analyzing-tube w is stopped. In the compartmentm the acid encounters the vapors liberated from the acid in concentration in the trough c, thus causing it to enter this latter in a hotter condition by traversing the plate p when the analyzing-tube :r is stopped. In the trough o the acid :is submitted to the calorific radiation of the red-hot plates CZ in such a manner that its concentration continues gradually up to the desired point until it :issues through the pipe l, which conducts it to the refrigerator 2. The concentration is regulated by the valve or gate 4c, inserted in the pipe 1. As regards the vapors which pass through the compartment fm they become partially condensed there in contact Wit-h the acid coming from the pans j and pass with this latter into the trough c. Those which have not become liquefied there traverse the compartment Z, where they part with all the acid which they contained and escape into the atmosphere through the pipe u. The portions condensed in this latter compartment pass into the compartment m, mingle with the acid, and proceed to the trough c.

The bottom of the trough c instead of being plane may be arranged cascade or step fashion, as indicated in Fig. 4. In this case the plates (Z are arranged in such a manner that they are always at the same distance from the acid.

I claim as my invention- 1. An apparatus for the concentration of sulfuric acid, comprising a furnace, a concentrating-trough with radiating plates over it, a tower opening into the said trough and a concentrating-pan with discharge-pipes to the tower, and a conduit for the products of combustion from the furnace to the surface of said plates over the concentrating-trough and thence to the concentrating-pan, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus for the concentration of sulfuric acid, comprising a furnace, a concentrating-trough, plates over the surface of the concentrating-trough, a tower opening into the said trough, and a conduit for the products of 'combustion from the furnace to the surface of the said plates, substantially as described.

3. An apparatus for the concentration of sulfuric acid, comprising a furnace, a concentrating-trough, plates over the surface of the concentrating-trough, a conduit for the products of combustion from the furnace and an arch over the plates to project the products 0f combustion down onto the surface of the plates, and a tower opening into said trough, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4t. An apparatus for the concentration of sulfuric acid, comprising a furnace, a concentrating-trough with :radiating plates over it, a tower in two superposed and communieating compartments, the lower one opening into the said trough and a conduit for the products of combustion from the furnace to the surface of the plates over the concentrating-trough, substantially as described. I

5. An apparatus for the concentration of sulfuric acid, comprising a furnace, a concentrating-trough, having plates over its surface, a tower over one end of the said trough and having openings into the trough, a concentrating-pan having discharge-pipesopening into the tower, and a conduit from the furnace to the space over the said plates and thence to the concentrating-pans, lall substantially as described.

6. An apparatus for the concentration of sulfuric acid, comprising a furnace, a cona I v oentrating -trough having radiating plates In testimony whereof I have signed my over it and having an outlet with a gate or name to this specification in the presence of 1o valve, a tower opening to said trough, a oontwo subscribing Witnesses. v oentrating-pan, a Siphon to regulate the iioW 5 from the pan to the tower and a conduit for JACQUES LOUIS KESSLER' the products of combustion from the furnace vWitnesses: to the radiating surface over the ooncentrat- LUCIEN JACQUES ANIDIE, ing-trough and thence to the pan. JEAN FRANQOIS DSIR DELARNELL. 

